How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? While I have won awards for my work as a medical illustrator, Amos Likes to Jumpwas my first published picture book. It was immensely gratifying to be recognized for the hard work that collectively went into this book. As a first-time author and illustrator team, we are thrilled to have placed on the Gittle List. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our second book in the Amos series.

Interior illustration by Ellen Davis

What children’s book contains your favorite illustrations? I love the whimsy of Shel Silverstein’s work. The starkness of his illustrations in The Giving Tree lend themselves so beautifully to the emotions in the text.

What is your favorite children’s book? My favorite children’s book of all time is The Lorax. I love the illustrations of the candy-like other world filled with truffala trees and the way Dr. Suess plays with light and darkness to evoke the changing mood in the book. I read it so often to my cousin’s child a few summers ago that I almost know every word by heart, and yet I never tired of it. To me, that is the mark of a lasting book.

Which artists or writers most influenced or inspired your work? Currently, one of my favorite children’s book illustrators is Will Terry. The use of light and color in his work really inspires me. He uses light very purposefully in order to set the mood of his illustrations, and his attention to detail is truly respectable.

What is your favorite color or color combination? I like using varying shades of blue and turquoise in my work. It’s a very calming color and I use it in most all of my work, children’s book and otherwise.

Interior illustration by Ellen Davis

Why did you decide to self-publish? Because the Amos books are about a real dog, [the author] Margaret Lowder really wanted to ensure that our books are true to the spirit of Amos himself. I did not anticipate the sometimes condescending attitude towards self-published books, but have been glad to see some recognition that authors are now choosing this route willingly over traditional methods.

Do you prefer to work digitally, by hand, or both? I prefer to combine traditional and digital methods in my work. I create my sketches in 2B pencil and apply color digitally. There is something about hand-wrought work that I think will always be appealing to readers.

Tell us about your latest project. I am currently working on final illustrations for the second book in the series of Amos Tales, entitled Amos Bounces Back: A Tale of Too Much TV. This book is due for release in the Summer of 2016. In order to reach an older audience, this book will be a large picture book (not a board book like Amos Likes to Jump).

Interior illustration by Ellen Davis

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? I had a professor in graduate school for Medical Illustration who passed away as I was working on this children’s book. Professor Mascaro taught that you should draw, draw, draw, and draw some more. He [also] told me that besides drawing, the best thing I could do was to really understand color.

What do you do to market your books? Aside from setting up readings and signings in shops, libraries, and schools, we have an active social media presence on facebook and instagram. We have a blog on amosthedog.com where we share dog treat recipes on #TreatYourselfTuesdays, and we promote the book through blogs and magazines.Ellen is a science lover turned artist who found her niche as a medical illustrator. With a BFA in Scientific Illustration and a master’s degree in Medical Illustration, Ellen is well versed in color and design. Whether painting Amos or anatomy, she brings dynamic color and energy to her work. Ellen’s specialties include children’s book illustration, medical illustration and animation, veterinary illustration, and pet portraiture. When not creating art, she can be found cooking and spending time with her chocolate lab, Nala.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

Aviva Gittle writes and publishes children’s stories in English and Spanish. Each year, Aviva runsThe Gittle Listcontest to support her fellow indie authors. Oh, she also loves children’s picture books and is always on the lookout for great ones. The 2016 Gittle List Contest is in full swing: submission guidelines. Follow @AvivaGittle and signup for Gittle News (look right) to be the first to know when they are posted! 😺

Julianne DiBlasi Black earned the #8 spot on The Gittle List for Sleep Sweet, a book she wrote and illustrated. (Read my review.)

How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? I was thrilled to be included in The Gittle List, I’ve won several other awards for my artwork and writing, but this was my first as a combined piece showcasing my art and text together. It has also been great learning about the other authors/illustrators that made the list and connecting with them through social media.

What is your favorite children’s book? My favorites growing up are still very much my favorites now- anything by Dr Seuss,Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson and A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. Passing them down to my daughter and getting to enjoy them through her eyes makes them all new again.

Interior illustration by Julianne DiBlasi Black

Which artists or writers most influenced or inspired your work? I’m influenced greatly by the dreamy worlds of creative giants like Mike Mignola, Tim Burton and Jim & Brian Henson. The hyper-realistic details of the incredibly imaginative leave me in absolute awe.

What is your favorite color or color combination? It changes. Right now I’m really into Southwestern color combinations; crimson, rust, turquoise and bright copper.

Tell us about your latest project. I’m juggling several new projects right now that are already making my 2016 quite full! Sleep Sweet is coming out as an Augmented Reality virtual pop-up book, I have two new children’s books coming out this spring that I am finishing up the illustrations for, I’m continuing the editing on the two adult novels I wrote during 2015, and I have a solo exhibit at the Maturango Museum featuring my fine art work scheduled for November!

Interior illustration by Julianne DiBlasi Black

Tell us 3 strange and wonderful things about you.

Hmm. I once spent the night in a sleeping bag on the Kalahari Desert.

I’ve done most of my own tattoos.

I would be perfectly happy eating only sushi and drinking green tea for the rest of my life.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?Attributed to Walt Disney is the phrase “Keep moving forward”. So many times I’ve hit dead ends on projects and had to remind myself to just keep moving forward. No matter how slow you go, you’ll soon gain momentum and be back on your feet. Works every time.

Illustration by Julianne DiBlasi Black

Julianne DiBlasi Black is an artist, poet and author influenced greatly by the dreamy worlds of creative giants like Mike Mignola, Tim Burton and Jim & Brian Henson. Blending life experiences and day-dreams through text and image, she draws in children of all ages with her whimsical story lines and mixed-media illustrations. Between writing and creating art, raising her three year old daughter Madison, and writing her popular mommy-blog, she also works as a freelance graphic designer. You may have already seen her work on international commercial packaging, national ad campaigns (Sears, Mitsubishi +) or political branding. Raised in Andover, MA she considers the world her playground and continues to re-locate and travel extensively, adding to her collection of environmental and social experiences. She currently lives out in the Mojave Desert.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

Aviva Gittle writes and publishes children’s stories in English and Spanish. Each year, Aviva runsThe Gittle Listcontest to support her fellow indie authors. Oh, she also loves children’s picture books and is always on the lookout for great ones. The 2016 Gittle List Contest is in full swing: submission guidelines. Follow @AvivaGittle and signup for Gittle News (look right) to be the first to know when they are posted! 😺

How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? I feel delighted to hear that No Birthday for Mara has won a spot on The Gittle List Top 10 [for 2015]. It is a great opportunity to get children, families, and colleagues learn about this great book written by Mariana Llanos. In my home country, Argentina, I have gotten some awards for my artwork and, luckily in the USA, many people like my illustrations. I am overjoyed to get this award.

What’s your earliest memory of drawing or writing? I recall myself drawing for the first time when I was about three years old. I remember I used to draw on a table in the kitchen of my parents´ house. The drawing were very basic, like circles, lines, and small people, like stick figures; and I also remember I made them talk to each other, and pretended they were talking to each other. Something one of my small daughters do now while playing with dolls and ponies.

Interior illustration from “No Birthday for Mara” by Julián Galván

What is your favorite children’s book? It is a difficult question to answer, but I can choose some to share with you. Aesop´s Fableswere my favorite when I was a kid, but I also like books like The Gruffaloby Julia Donaldson, and Cuentos de la Selva (Jungle Stories) by Horacio Quiroga. In general, children´s books which contain animals illustrations are my favorite ones.

What is your favorite color? Blue is my favorite color. I always related blue to the color of the sky and the sea, and both provide a great inspiration to me.

Do you prefer to work digitally, by hand, or both?I usually start working by hand, after that I color the illustrations with pencils, markers or watercolors, and finally I add different effects using digital software. I work this way, because I feel that a direct contact with the pencil and a sheet of paper is an authentic channel of expression, and creativity. At least, it works for me, and I can get the most of an idea.

Tell us about your latest project. My latest projects are also connected to other indie writers in USA, who publish books for children and for educational purposes. Not only have my illustrations appeared on books, but also on t-shirts and other stuff.

Interior illustration from “No Birthday for Mara” by Julián Galván

Tell us 3 strange and wonderful things about you.

I think one of these 3 things is my good sense of humour, I am very positive, even in very difficult situations, I always look on the bright side of things. This thing about me has helped me overcome tough situations.

I collaborate with a non-profit organization. I try to share my artwork to sponsor their job or events.

I am a journalist and I also enjoy writing articles, making interviews, and working on my news portal. Journalism is also a passion to me.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? I think the best piece of advice I have ever been given is something my eldest daughter told me not too long ago. She said “There are no age limits for new opportunities.” [This] is something very wise and true, and it was a surprise that a nine year old girl could come up with such a great piece of advice. She told me that when I was doubting to start working as a freelancer.

Julián Galván is a creative Argentine illustrator and cartoonist born in the city of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Besides being a passionate artist, he is also a fully accredited journalist. He has worked not only for Argentine graphic media, but also for Spain and the United States. Julián has three daughters who motivate him to draw children´s books, and create funny and expressive characters. They love stories, fantasy worlds, and enjoy watching him illustrate them. In fact, they are usually near when he draws, sitting on a small table next to him drawing, or playing.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

Aviva Gittle writes and publishes children’s stories in English and Spanish. Each year, Aviva runsThe Gittle Listcontest to support her fellow indie authors. Oh, she also loves children’s picture books and is always on the lookout for great ones. The 2016 Gittle List Contest is in full swing: submission guidelines. Follow @AvivaGittle and signup for Gittle News (look right) to be the first to know when they are posted! 😺

How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? I’m honored to be a three-time Gittle List winner. I didn’t see this coming! I’m grateful to be included in this fantastic list. My books Tristan Wolf and The Wanting Monsterwere in this list in previous years. Additionally, Tristan Wolf was a finalist of the Readers’ Favorite Award in 2013, A Planet for Tristan Wolfwas an Honorable Mention at the New England Book Festival of 2014. I put a lot of work and passion into my books, so it feels rewarding when they get recognized.

What children’s book contains your favorite illustrations? I love Maurice Sendak’s art. He was unique and talented. Gosh how I wish I could draw!

Which artists or writers most influenced or inspired your work? When I was young(er), I used to read and re-read two books in particular: one was The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The other one was Mi Planta de Naranja Lima by the Brazilian Jose Mauro de Vasconcelos. I’ve always wanted to write poignant stories like those. I think these books are the ones that influenced a lot of my early writing, and are still alive in me.

Why did you decide to self-publish? I self-published because I wanted to be involved in the whole process of creating a book. I find it fascinating. I never considered traditional publishing in the beginning, contrary to what some people think. There’s this conception that one self-publishes because there’s no other option. Well, that’s far from truth, at least in my case. I’m not opposed to traditional publishing, and I would consider it too. For me it’s not one of the other. I like to learn from both, and find the right ways to make my books available to my audience. The part I don’t enjoy much about self-publishing is marketing. It’s time consuming, when I just want to do is to write. But I’m not bad at it, and it’s part of the process.

Interior illustration by

Tell us about your latest project. This year I’m planning on releasing two titles: The Wanting Monster: Andy goes to Peru, and The Maize Cob Princess, a tale of a tiny princess or ñusta who lives in the times of the Incas. As you can see I’m going back to my roots, with two stories set in my home country. Also, in a few months Recently, I made Tristan Wolf available as an audio book, and The Staircase on Pine Streetwill soon be available in Spanish.

Tell us 3 strange and wonderful things about you.

I don’t drive on the highway. I take streets and city roads to go where I want to go. Sure it takes me longer, but it also gives me time to muse.

I’m obsessed with the Beatles. I’ve loved their music since I was young, and now I feel as if I lived in the 60’s because all I want to do is Twist and Shout.

Even though Spanish is my native language, I write in English. I started writing when I was a kid, in Spanish of course. When I was in my mid-20s I had a long writer’s block, of close to ten years. I only wrote sporadically, but the blank page in front of me, became my usual. I only overcame it when I started writing in the new language, English, when I moved to the US. I haven’t stopped writing ever since.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.” Very simple. I probably read it somewhere, and it stuck with me. Making mistakes is a sign that you’re trying, and learning in the process.

Mariana was a Gittle List 2014 winner with “The Wanting Monster.”

What do you do to market your books? I’m authentic. Yes, that’s what I do. That’s my strategy. I write, I share, I do ads and things like that, but most of all, I let people fall in love (or hate) with my writing.

Mariana was a Gittle List 2013 winner with “Tristan Wolf.”

Any advice for writers thinking about self-publishing a children’s picture book? This is a tough but rewarding business. If you self-publish, make sure you’re publishing your best work. There are a lot of good stories out there, but they don’t shine because the authors rushed to publish. Invest money in a good editor, a designer, an illustrator. Read a lot of articles, educate yourself. Also, start networking with other authors and bloggers. Study your favorite authors, buy their books. There’s a lot of work to be done before you can call yourself as an ‘author’. I promise it will be all worth it in the end. I wrote an article about the traits I consider necessary to thrive in this industry (read here).

Mariana Llanos is Peruvian-born author who lives in Oklahoma. She has independently published six children’s books. She visits schools in Oklahoma City, encouraging children to read and write. She also visits schools through virtual technology. Last school year she visited 55 schools around the globe. This year so far, she’s visited 30. Her goal is to break stereotypes while sharing her passion for books and writing. Her books, Tristan Wolf, A Planet for Tristan Wolf, The Staircase on Pine Street, The Wanting Monster, No Birthday for Mara and A Superpower for Me are available on Amazon.com worldwide and on Full Circle Bookstore of Oklahoma City.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

Aviva Gittle writes and publishes children’s stories in English and Spanish. Each year, Aviva runsThe Gittle Listcontest to support her fellow indie authors. Oh, she also loves children’s picture books and is always on the lookout for great ones. The 2016 Gittle List Contest is in full swing: submission guidelines. Follow @AvivaGittle and signup for Gittle News (look right) to be the first to know when they are posted! 😺

How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? I was already proud of Amos Likes to Jump, and believed it to be a well conceived children’s book, but the validation of winning an award like The Gittle List 2015 meant so much. To know others thought the verse, illustrations, and quality of our collaborative efforts were worthy of being recognized was so rewarding. This is the first book I have ever authored and the first in the series of Amos Tales.

What’s you earliest memory of drawing or writing? I remember writing poems as early as the 2nd grade. My cousin would staple them together to make a very thin booklet! My favorite story I created was about a frog!

What children’s book contains your favorite illustrations? The Winnie the Pooh books always had such lovely illustrations that captured my young imagination. The tone is so comforting for children, and the setting is pure magic.

What is your favorite color or color combination? Since Amos Likes to Jump is an action book about my real life dog Amos, the illustrator, Ellen Davis, and I decided to use vibrant energetic colors. Ellen’s illustrations are beautiful and bring the story to life. Her blue-hued combinations are my favorite.

Why did you decide to self-publish? I believed self publishing would be the easiest and fastest way to get my first book out to the world and, of course, it is the best way to have complete control over what is written and the illustrations. The best part of this was pairing such a gifted illustrator who understood my vision.

Do you prefer to work digitally, by hand, or both? Since I am not incredibly proficient in computer skills, I chose to do both. I write out my thoughts, scratch through, re-write, re-visit, and later enter the final version onto my laptop.

Tell us about your latest project. My latest project is in the illustration phase as we speak. We are aiming to be on bookshelves by late Summer 2016. Ellen Davis is once again bringing Amos and his friends to life in the second book of the series: Amos Bounces Back – A Tale of Too Much TV! I am also happy to announce that a soft, plush Amos toy (cape and all) is arriving in April to accompany the books.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? To see the spaces and not the trees! In other words, look for the opportunities in front of you and do not get discouraged by the obstacles. Believe in what you are doing and persevere.

For as long as anyone can recall, Margaret has had a passion for two things: children and dogs. Well, maybe three if you count sweets, but that’s another story. After years of dreaming Walter Mitty-style of the ideal children’s book and its characters, she focused her boundless energy and witty spirit on the Amos Series. Amos is Margaret’s trusty sidekick, her pal for years and now her inspiration for children’s books. She vividly describes the life of Amos in these books, from his imaginary travels to his secret super powers.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

Aviva Gittle writes and publishes children’s stories in English and Spanish. Her books are filled with beautiful illustrations from artists around the world. You can now order prints and mugs from all of the Kitten and Friends books, Nana books, and more! Each year, Aviva runsThe Gittle Listcontest to support her fellow indie authors. Oh, she also loves children’s picture books and is always on the lookout for great ones. The 2016 Gittle List Contest is in full swing: submission guidelines. Follow @AvivaGittle and signup for Gittle News (look right) to be the first to know when they are posted! 😺

How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? Winning a Top 10 spot on The Gittle List was extremely exciting for me! As a small indie illustrator/author, it is really gratifying to see people enjoying my work. Friends and family always give support, but having another professional acknowledge my hard work gives it some validity. In college (ages ago), I had received a few scholarships for my illustration, but this is the first real award of my professional career.

What’s your earliest memory of drawing? To be honest, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing or painting. When I was six I wanted to draw interior design, when I was nine I wanted to be a fashion designer, and when I was eleven I wanted to illustrate album covers. The latter career goal swayed my interest into the wide world of illustration vs. fine art. Why paint something to hang on one wall when I could paint something to be put into print and have a potentially huge audience? My writing was always that of a novice; the only real writing I did as a child was in a diary. I couldn’t necessarily get much feedback from that, but I always got a great amount of respect for my art from my family and peers.

What children’s book contains your favorite illustrations? By far, The Book that Jack Wrote by Jon Scieszka has some of my favorite illustrations. I am a huge Daniel Adel fan. I have followed his caricature illustration in magazines for years, and found his ability to cross genres and illustrate children’s books as well inspiring.

Why did you decide to self-publish?My choice to self-publish came relatively easy to me. Prior to “Have You Ever?”, I illustrated a series of 4 books for a local author depicting the 4 seasons of Vermont. She chose to self-publish, and I found it a learning experience of what to do vs. what not to do when publishing. After finishing my book dummy, I did an extensive amount of research on which book publishers would actually accept un-agented submissions. They were few and far between, but I put my work out there to a handful of traditional publishers and waited… No response. I didn’t let it get me down; in fact it fueled me to learn more about self-publishing. I felt I had something really unique to share and was not willing to give up quite yet. I am glad I self-published, because I feel that I was able to have complete control over what I envisioned the book to be.

Interior illustration by Cotey Gallagher

Do you prefer to work digitally, by hand, or both? I am fully a “by hand” personality. From drawing, to painting, to my crafts, it doesn’t feel real unless I am holding it up on a piece of paper. There is something so much more genuine when you can see small flaws in a hand painted piece. I am not perfect, neither is my art. I do work digitally from a design perspective though. I find it easier to arrange a page’s text and sometimes the composition in a less “permanent” medium.

Interior illustration from “Have You Ever?” by Cotey Gallagher

Tell us about your latest project. I just finished my second self-published book titled The Literally Illustrated Collection of Idioms, Metaphors and Euphemisms. It is an assortment of common figures of speech we use in every day vernacular, but with the silly twist of taking the subjects literally! The illustrations are all highly imaginative, and all of the figures of speech have helpful definitions for the reader.

What do you do to market your books? Locally, I am very grassroots; I try to get my face out there by doing book signings, TV and newspaper interviews, and readings at local libraries. On a broader scale, I have done research into getting interviews with bloggers, and putting my book out to as many contests as I can. I use social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to create buzz and interest. Cross-marketing is something I have just begun doing, and am excited to see the results!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? “Make the mistake.” The worse thing that will happen is that you will learn from that mistake. If you don’t take the risk, how can you ever really be sure about the result? I have a tendency to play it safe, but any time I choose to challenge myself, I have found I have the reward of knowledge, no matter the outcome.

Artist Cotey Gallagher was born and raised in picturesque Vermont. She attended college at the Art Institute of Boston (now Lesley University College of Art and Design) in Boston, MA, receiving a BFA in illustration. Her main focus is editorial and caricature, but has always had a passion for children’s books. She is a self-proclaimed “Word Nerd” and has always enjoyed crossword puzzles and word games. Cotey resides in Salisbury Vermont with her husband, son and cat.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? It’s always a positive experience to be given recognition. You Talk Funny Too, was my first children’s book collaboration as an illustrator. To be awarded the #4 spot on the Gittle List makes makes me very proud and certainly has encouraged me to illustrate more books! This is my first time I’ve ever received an award for creative work, and I love that there is a book competition for self publishers such as The Gittle List Contest which is so accessible.

Which artists most influenced or inspired your work? There are several artist which have inspired and influenced my work. San Diego artist Grant Pecoff encouraged me to pursue my passion for art and to simply paint what I love, not what people want! Grant’s ability to capture light and vibrancy in his art makes you feel so alive! Vladimir Kush (surrealist artist) inspires my surreal mind, to think out of the box and challenge my creativity. American pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein inspire an element of simplicity, vibrancy and precision to my work. (Cool Kid’s Board Book based on Warhol art.)

Interior illustration by Simone Wolowiec

What children’s book contains your favorite illustrations? My favorite book of illustrations is Where The Wild Things Are, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. His illustrations are detailed beautiful artworks, so timeless and atmospheric. His use of line drawings in his art is unique! He captures so well the transforming power of imagination, the imagination of a little boy Max who transforms his bedroom into another world.

What is your favorite color or color combination? I love red! It’s vibrant and for me it really represents adventure, and passion. It always makes me feel good. Color combinations are fascinating to me. I really go by the visual feelings the colors give me. I like to find a balance between the use of warm and cool colors. I love using red/pink and blue together.

Do you prefer to work digitally, by hand, or both?I prefer working with my hands. At this point in my career I’m definitely embracing the love for painting and drawing with my hands, constantly learning and pushing my techniques as an artist. However I am impressed by the artistic effects digital work can add to a piece and would like to combine both hand and digital art in the near future.

Tell us about your latest project. I am currently in collaboration again and sketching characters and illustrations for a new children’s book to be self published later this year. I am also working on my painting collection (oil on canvas) for my 2016 art show.

Interior illustration by Simone Wolowiec

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? The best advice I’ve been given is quite simple, but very powerful. “If you don’t believe in what you are doing, why would anyone else.”

What do you do to market your books? We’ve marketed extensively to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn with enormous support. Local community marketing has, however, been a key to our success. This has included book launch celebrations, art show events, music events and the support of local art/gift shops who stock our book. Marketing to teachers and schools by offering class book reading days have also been a great way to share our book, and fun too!

Simone is an artist and illustrator who currently lives in Cardiff, CA. She has been working in this field for several years part time and has recently made art her full time occupation. She has completed a number of original paintings in her preferred medium, oil on canvas, including several commissions for local art-lovers in Southern California. Her works hang in Encinitas, California and Melbourne, Australia where Simone was born and lived until 2008. Simone’s artistic philosophy is that her art should “simply make you smile”. Her inspiration is drawn from creativity all around her including art, design and the beauty of nature. (In photo on right clockwise- Indie author Lee Coulter, Artist Simone Wolowiec.)

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? Had you ever gotten an award for any of your other work? It’s always lovely to have someone recognize your work as worthwhile. I have won several writing contests and been awarded three Ontario arts Council grants for novels in progress.

What’s your earliest memory of drawing or writing? I can’t remember writing my first story but I can remember creating it. I was a puppet fanatic and used to entertain other neighborhood children with my shows on the back step. Thirty years later I met one of my previous audience members and the first thing she mentioned was how much she had loved those little plays.

What children’s book contains your favorite illustrations? There are far too many wonderful illustrated books to pick just one: Zen Shorts, The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit, The Dragons Are Singing Tonight, Peppe the Lamplighter, Grandfathers Journey, The Eleventh Hour and more.

What is your favorite children’s book? This changes constantly as I become aware of new books. I do have a soft spot for The Jolly Postman or Other Peoples Letters by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

Why did you decide to self-publish? I started late in life, trying to get published after I retired. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough healthy time left to wait while a manuscript circulates through publishing houses for months or even years.

Do you prefer to work digitally, by hand, or both?I used to work in acrylic and pencil crayon but since developing Parkinson’s disease, I now work digitally. It is a huge learning curve. As my tremor increases, that is also becoming more difficult. So now I’m trying out photography (which is always been a passion), in my books.

Tell us about your latest project. I have several things on the go. I switch back and forth between projects, letting them lie for a while in order to come back with fresh eyes. My newest publication is Tell Me Where: Animals and Babies. It is a collection of humorously modified photographs that teach children spatial concepts.

The Amida Tree interior illustration by Bonnie Ferrante.

Tell us 3 strange and wonderful things about you. Not much pressure there! I am a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Lay Leader. I’m a seventh generation Canadian. I love doing all needle arts and am continuing to sew and stitch in spite of my tremor.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Make time to do what you love.

What do you do to market your books? I’m not very good about this. I am on word press, twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media. I do presentations at schools, libraries, and public venues.

Any advice for writers thinking about self-publishing a children’s picture book? Get it vetted by someone who is a tough critic and won’t spare your feelings before you publish. Pay someone if you have to.

Bonnie loves living in Northern Ontario, Canada even though she spends most of the long winter indoors writing. She chants, bikes, gardens, reads, stitches, volunteers, studies the Dharma, draws, photographs, plays/works on the computer, attends live theatre, enjoys being trounced in Scrabble by her husband, Fred, and is presently tackling decorating her new home. Her granddaughters keep her young. Once upon a time, she was a public grade school teacher.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List Top 10? I was elated! I thought it was quite brilliant to announce them one at a time this year. I know, I, and I’m sure many others, anxiously awaited each new day, and each time another book was announced, I thought, ‘Wow, that book sounds so great!’ Then of course I worried that mine might not make the list. I’m enormously grateful to Aviva Gittle for putting in the time and effort it takes to showcase and help all of us indie writers.

What’s you earliest memory of drawing or writing? My earliest and best memory of drawing and painting is in Ms Moscerelli’s 6th grade classroom. Teachers, please know that all the wonderful things you do have a lasting effect on your students. Ms Moscerelli loved art so her class started with an art project every morning. When it was time to put that project away and open our math books, she’d say, “everyone open your books to page ….. ; then she’d say, “Bev, you can continue with your art.” Now, I may not be great at math as a result, but she certainly made me feel very special and helped to start me on my art journey.

What children’s book contains your favorite illustrations? There are so many talented illustrators out there and so many illustrations I love. The Lion And The Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney has to be one of my recent favorites and one purchase I made from last year’s Gittle List, The Kings Dream, written by Harris Tobias and illustrated by Cathy Reene, has some beautiful illustrations.

What is your favorite color or color combination? I love blue hues. I usually work with a pretty small palette. Some people say they can recognize my art by the colors I use.

Why did you decide to self-publish? You know, I find self publishing very easy and a perfect fit for me. I’m very happy with the whole process because it allows me to illustrate my own stories and put out as many books as I’d like. The thought of self publishing is a little scary at first — just like anything unknown — but I’ve been publishing with Createspace for about 3 years now and they’ve made it a great experience so far.

Do you prefer to work digitally, by hand, or both? I illustrate all of my stories with watercolors on watercolor paper.

Tell us about your latest project. I always have several projects in the works. Right now I’m illustrating a children’s book I wrote called, Rumbly Grumbly, that I’m very excited about and I’m also working on a project, an anthology, which will be illustrated by my son, Calvin. That’s very special to me. He’s a great artist and a soon to be wonderful doctor. Both books should be out by Spring or early summer. All of the profits made from those books and any others go to benefit children.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?The best piece of advice I was ever given was when my daughter and son were born and friends told me to ignore all the little things that really don’t matter and spend all that precious time with my babies. That wasn’t hard to do at all! Now I can apply that to things around the house that I don’t want to do so that I can spend my time writing and illustrating instead. That works, right?

What do you do to market your books? Well….Hmmmm, I have to admit I’m not very good about marketing my books. I think I’m getting better but I have to be honest, if I could just write them and illustrate them and not worry about marketing, I’d be happy. Actually, the best thing I’ve done, is to enter my books in the The Gittle List contest. In her prompting to get the word out for all indie writers, she’s led me in directions I wouldn’t have otherwise gone, Twitter, for example. You can follow me @Bevstone13. Thanks Aviva Gittle! Also, Melissa Crane, who is in charge of media at the gallery where I show my paintings, has been amazing at getting the word out locally.

Any advice for writers thinking about self-publishing a children’s picture book?All I can say is that it’s been a wonderful experience for me, so if you’re thinking about self publishing, definitely give it a try. I would caution however, have no expectations, accept to enjoy the process and the fact that you actually succeeded in getting that book you’ve been working on in print. Yay!!! Do it. You’ll be glad you did.

Bev Stone is an artist and indie children’s book author. Bev started painting and drawing at an early age and was first introduced to watercolor in elementary school. Today Bev paints in both watercolor and oil and continues to write children’s books while living in the beautiful state of Idaho, overlooking the Snake River. Many of her paintings and book updates can be found on her website, www.artbybevstone.com.

Credits: All illustrations in this interview post are created and owned by Bev Stone and come from her award-wining children’s book The Red and Black Ladybug.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!

How did it feel to win the #1 spot on The Gittle List Top 10? I woke up one morning and when I logged onto Facebook, I saw your post announcing the winners. I was completely surprised and honored that my fifth Guess What book won. This is the second time I’ve made The Gittle List but the first time I earned the top spot.

What’s you earliest memory of drawing or writing? I’ve been pretty creative since grade school. I used to enter the “Can You Draw?” contests that were in the backs of magazines. I never won anything but it was fun to see how closely I could duplicate their image. Writing was completely different. I didn’t really start writing creatively until my late 20’s. One thing led to another and here I am. Funny how things change over time.

What is your favorite color or color combination?As I age, my favorite colors seem to change. I like different colors for different things. I will never have a blue room in my house because it’s such a cold color although I do like the teals and sea greens. For clothes, I’m open to all colors. When it comes to designing book covers, I’ll use any colors that fit the look and feel of the book.

Why did you decide to self-publish? I had written and submitted several children’s stories to traditional publishers in the past. When I wrote the first Guess What book and then decided to feature illustrations from Kids Around the World, I knew self-publishing was the right option. It was easy to self-publish since I had already helped other authors self-publish prior to starting my own series.

Tell us about your latest project. After publishing five Guess What books, I decided I wanted to publish a coloring book to go along with the series, simply named Guess What You Can Color? However, this time I am drawing my own illustrations. The book will include the 13 objects from the first five Guess What books which will make 65 fun, simple pictures for kids – or adults – to color. It will be available this fall, just in time for Christmas gifts.

Madison A. Bolokowicz – Age 15

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?“Do it right the first time.” That has been my dad’s motto for as long as I can remember. He’s 91 years old and still running their own ranch so I value his advice. The second part to that is, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” I often pass this along to clients when they think self-publishing means doing everything themselves. The third piece is, “Patience.” Anything worthwhile shouldn’t be rushed.

What do you do to market your books? I’ve done everything from social media to book signings and school visits. Because of the uniqueness of featuring kids’ illustrations, I do a lot of promoting for my young artists since they are the stars of my books. With their parents’ permission, I send custom press releases to their local media and I also include them at events when possible.

Any advice for writers thinking about self-publishing a children’s picture book? Since I offer self-publishing services to authors, the most common mistake I see is when they have the illustrations done before the manuscript is fully edited. This usually means they’re spending more time and money to have the illustrations revised in order to fit the edited text. The second mistake is not having it edited at all or not understanding the different types of editors. There is a big difference between a good substantive edit and just a proofread.

Growing up on a small ranch in the middle of North Dakota gave Nancy many experiences which she uses as inspirations for her stories. She has always gravitated toward anything creative but also likes tech-related challenges. She considers herself a techie geek girl even though she grew up long before the technology era. She believes that if you keep your eyes open, the best opportunities may be right beside you. Nancy lives in southern California with her husband. They have one son in college.

*Please support my indie book business by clicking on the book covers or using the links posted in my blog to buy books and other products. This way, Amazon gives me a little commission that helps me continue the website for you and other readers. Thank you!